Though the full lineup has yet to be released for this year's Plaza Classic Film Festival, the few titles that have been confirmed are certainly blockbusters.

Celebrating its seventh year, the festival will kick off this season on Aug. 7 with the 1955 romantic comedy, "The Seven Year Itch," starring Marilyn Monroe, and featuring one of the most iconic images of the 20th century — Monroe standing on a subway grate as her white dress is blown by a passing train.

"This is a special year," said Doug Pullen, the program director for the El Paso Community Foundation and the Plaza Classic Film Festival. "It will be consistent with what we've done in the past, but with a few new touches. We're looking forward to it."

Other key movies on the schedule so far include:

•"Oklahoma" on Aug. 8

•"The Wizard of Oz" on Aug. 9

•"Rear Window" on Aug. 10

•"Crimes of the Heart" on Aug. 12

•"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" on Aug. 14

Beth Henley, the writer of the Pulitzer-winning play "Crimes of the Heart" will make an appearance at the showing of the movie.

Also, the annual art exhibit, "No Subtitles Required: The Art of the International Film Posters," done in conjunction with the annual festival, will take place July 13 through Aug. 31 at the El Paso Museum of Art, next to the Plaza Theatre. Movie posters from around the world will be featured from the Charles Horak collection.

Advertisement

This year's festival movies will be shown in the Plaza Theatre, as well as outdoors at a new venue that will be announced in the future. More details, movie titles and the schedule are expected to be unveiled in the next few weeks, according to Pullen.

The Plaza Classic Film Festival will run from Aug. 7 through Aug. 17.

Margaret Gallardo is entertainment editor for the El Paso Times; She may be reached at 546-6166.